Multiple valve for pumping systems



June 7, 1932. H, M. KEITH 1,862,407

MULTIPLE VALVE FOR PUMPING SYSTEMS Filed Jan. 12, 1931 z'sneets-sneet 1 LEV/l9 I 263 77 I W l June 7, 1932. H, KEITH 1,862,407

MULTIPLE VALVE FOR PUMPING SYSTEMS Filed Jan. 12, 1951 ZSheets-Sheet 2 w%%( I fr-romsvb Patented June 7, 1 932 PATENT OFFICE HENRY M. KEITH, OF HARRISBURG, ILLINOIS MULTIPLE VALVE FOR PUMPING SYSTEMS Application filed January 12, 1931. Serial No. 508,290.

This invention relates to liquid supply systems, whereby a constant flow of liquid may be obtained from a source of supply, the invention being especially useful as a water supply system for dwellings and other buildings where water is supplied from a well or other source. 7

Another object of the invention is'the provision of a system wherein air under pressure is used to lift the Water, the invention including means controlled by the flow of water through the system to alternately direct air to each of a pair of submerged tanks, so that a constant flow will be provided.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the air control valve and its operating means.

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the invention is shown in connection with a building B to which water is supplied from a well W.

For the purpose of carrying out the invention there is provided a water supply pipe 10 which extends into the building and which may have connection with any number of branch pipes for distributing the water to various parts of the building. The pipe 10 is shown as extending into the building to the lower floor or basement 11 and connected with a fixture 12 situated upon the floor above. The pipe 10 extends downward into the well beneath the surface of the water and has connection with branch pipes 13 and 14 which extend into tanks 15 and 16 respectively. These tanks are open in their bottoms as shown at 17 and these openings are controlled by check valves 18. Check valves 19 are also provided in the branch pipes 13 and 14.

Located at any suitable point, for example in the basement 11, is an air compressor 20. 55 This compressor has extending therefrom a pipe 21 which extends into the well and is in communication with the casing of a valve 22. Pipes 23 and 24 extend respectively into the tanks 15 and 16 so that air under pressure controlled by the valve 22 may be supplied to the tanks 15 and 16 for the purpose of forcing water from said tanks upward through the pipe 10 to the fixture 12.

Located within the pipe 10 is a circular casing 24 within which is mounted a rotor having impeller blades 25 which extend from a hub'26, the latter being mounted on a shaft- 27 which extends through a packing gland 28 carried by the casing. Mounted upon the outer end of the shaft '27 is a worm 29 which drives a gear 30,'the latter being mounted upon a short shaft 31 carried by a bracket 32 which extends from the casing 24.

The valve casing 22 is of cylindrical formation and is provided with spaced partitions 33 and 34', Ports 35 and 36 are provided these partitions, while ports 37 and 38 are provided in the end walls of the Valve casing. Aligned shafts 39 and 40' extend into the valve casing 22, and the shaft 39 has mounted thereon disk valves 41 and 42 which bear respectively against one end wall of the casing and the adjacent partition 33. These disk valves 41 and 42 are provided with ports 43 which are adapted to be moved into and out of register with the ports 35 and 37 The shaft 40 has mounted thereon disk valves 44 and 45 and these valves are provided with ports 46 which are adapted to be brought into register with the ports 36 and 38.

The shaf 39 has connect d to its outer end abifureated lever 47, the parallel arms 48 of which are adapted to be alternately engaged by a pin or stud 49 which extends from the 9 worm gear 30. A finger 50 is rigid with the lever 47 and its outer end is beveled for engagement with a conical head 51 carried at he ter nd o a Sp ing influenced plunger. 52 which is mounted for sliding movement in a guide 53. A yoke or arm 54 connects the shaft 40 with the lever 47.

Air under pressure is supplied to one of the tanks (the tank 16) and when the spigot of the fixture 12 is opened, water will be forced upward from this tank through the branch pipe 14, the pipe 10, the casing 24 and out through the spigot. The flow of water through the casing will operate the impeller blades so as to rotate the shaft 27, and this shaft will operate the gear so as to cause the stud 49 to alternately engage the arms 48 of the lever 47. This lever will be rocked so as to rock the shafts 39 and 40 and will position the disks 44 and 45 so that the opening 46 of the disk 45 registers with the opening 36 of the partition 34. Air will then flow from the compressor through the pipe 21, the valve casing 22 and the pipe 24. Before water is exhausted from the tank 16, the

' shafts 39 and 40 will be rocked in a reverse direction, the gears 29 and 30 being properly timed for this purpose. The port 43 of the disk 42 will be moved into register with the port 35 of the partition 33 so as to establish communication between the pipe 21 and the pipe 23 and supply air to the tank 15. The check valve 18 will thus be closed so that water will be forced upward through the branch pipe 13 and the pipe 10 to the fixture 12 as previously explained. During this operation, the disk 44 will have moved to bring its port 43 into register with the port 38 so as to exhaust air from the tank 16. During this operation, the port 46 will be moved out of register with the port 36 so as to cut off communication between the pipe 21 and the pipe 24. This alternate opening and closing of the ports to alternately provide communication between the compressor 20 and the tanks 15 and 16 will occur as long as the spigot of the fixture 12 remains open so that a constant supply of water will be furnished. As soon as the spigot is closed the impeller blades will cease to revolve so that operation of the valve 22 will stop.

During the rocking movement of the lever 47, the plunger 52 will be pressed inward through the operation of the arm 50, and due to the beveled outer end of this arm and the beveled head 51 0f the plunger, the arm will suddenly jump to opposite sides of the center of the plunger 52 so as to properly align and disalign the ports.

While the invention has been shown and described in connection with a water supply fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention what is claimed is A pumping system multiple valve comprising a cylinder having partition walls therein, said Walls dividing the interior of th: cylinder into intermediate and end chambers, said partition walls having aligned ports, the end walls of the cylinder having ports, air pipes connected with the intermediate and end chambers through the sides of the cylinder, shafts journalled in the ends of the cylinder and extending across the end chambers and entering the intermediate chambers, discs mounted between the inner ends of said shafts and having ports ada ted to register with the ports of the partition walls, other discs located in the end chambers and mounted upon the shaft and having port adapted to register with the port in the ends of the cylinder and means for rocking the shafts intermittently.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

HENRY M. KEITH. 

